Vaporizer runner structure

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a vaporizer runner structure, wherein the body is concaved to form a runner used to heat a liquid flowing therethrough; a plurality of extension portions is extended from two side walls of the runner to increase the contact area between the liquid and the runner; besides, a cover is used to hood the body and airtight the runner. In the present invention, the extension portions effectively increase the surface area of the runner. Thus, the heating efficiency of the vaporizer is greatly promoted, and steam is output faster. Thereby, the size of the vaporizer can be reduced to benefit product design.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vaporizer, particularly to an internal heating runner structure of a vaporizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Steam appliances are very popular nowadays. The steam cleaner is also a type of steam appliance, which vaporizes water into steam to clean something. The steam cleaner does not use detergent, so it is environment-friendly and unharmful for health. Further, the steam cleaner can achieve a superior cleaning effect. Therefore, consumers gradually accept steam cleaners now. There are various types of steam cleaners available in the markets. No matter what type or brand of the steam cleaner is, it always needs a vaporizer to vaporize water into steam. The vaporization effect directly influences the performance of a steam cleaner. Therefore, the vaporizer plays a very important role in a steam cleaner. A vaporizer uses electric power to heat water to vaporize into steam, and the conventional vaporizer usually has a bulky volume to obtain a larger heating area and a higher temperature. Besides, as electric power must be persistently supplied to maintain the vaporization temperature, a steam cleaner consumes considerable electric power. Therefore, the conventional vaporizer cannot satisfy the requirements of users and manufacturers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer runner structure, which has increased runner surface and can increase the efficiency of the heat exchange between the runner and a fluid.

Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the size of a vaporizer to benefit the product design thereof and is also to improve the airtightness of a vaporizer to enhance the leakage-proof capability thereof.

To achieve the abovementioned objectives, a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a body and a cover. The body is concaved to form a runner, which is used to heat a liquid flowing therethrough and has a plurality of extension portions to increase the contact area between the runner and the liquid. The cover is coupled to the body and airtights the runner. The extension portions can enable the runner to heat the liquid faster and accelerate the output of steam and can thus benefit reducing the size of products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another diagram schematically showing the operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 diagrams schematically showing the structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the vaporizer runner structure comprises a body 10. The body 10 is concaved to form a runner 20. A pair of electric contacts 14 conducts current to the body 10, and the runner 20 can thus heat a liquid flowing therethrough to vaporize into steam. The runner 20 has an inlet 21 and an outlet 22. The runner 20 has several turning points to form a serpentine path. The runner 20 has a plurality of extension portions 24 on two side walls to increase the contact area between the runner 20 and the liquid. A plurality of block plates 23 projects from the side walls of the runner 20 to reduce the sectional area of the runner 20. The block plates 23 which are interlocked respectively and spaced intermittently project from two side walls of the runner 20 alternately, which not only can increase the contact area between the liquid and the runner 20 but also can decelerate the liquid flow to increase the heating time. Besides, a separating column 25 projects from the bottom of the runner 20. All the abovementioned structures can greatly increase the area of the runner 20 to promote the heating efficiency and benefit reducing product size.

In this embodiment, the vaporizer runner structure also comprises a cover 30 to hood the body 10 and airtight the runner 20. Threaded holes 12 and 13 and through-holes 33 and 34 are respectively formed on the body 10 and the cover 30. Two fixing elements 70 respectively penetrate the threaded holes 12 and through-holes 33 and the threaded holes 13 and through-holes 34. Two nuts 71 are respectively screwed into the fixing elements 70 to couple the body 10 and the cover 30 together. Besides, there is a leakage-proof seal ring 80 arranged between the fixing elements 70 and the through-holes 33 and 34 of the cover 30. The cover 30 has a water entry 31 located corresponding to the inlet 21 of the runner 20, and a water-supplying unit 50 is installed to the water entry 31. The water-supplying unit 50 has a first conduit 51 and a first connector 52. The first connector 52 has a joint portion 521 joining with the first conduit 51 and a water output portion 522 extending from the joint portion 521 to the inlet 21 of the runner 20. The cover 30 has a steam exit 32 located corresponding to the outlet 22 of the runner 20, and an exhaust unit 60 is installed to the steam exit 32. The exhaust unit 60 has a second conduit 61 and a second connector 62. Further, the body 10 has a trench 11 along the runner 20 and used to install a leakage-proof seal strip 40 against the cover 30 (Refer to FIG. 3).

Refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 diagrams schematically showing the operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first conduit 51 inserted into the water entry 31 of the cover 30 guides water to flow through the first connector 52 and then reach the inlet 21 of the runner 20. Then, the water flows along the serpentine runner 20 and is persistently heated by the runner 20 at the same time. When the water reaches the outlet 22 of the runner 20, it has been vaporized into steam and will be exhausted via the second connector 62 and the second conduit 61. Once water passes through the inlet 21, it is heated and vaporized along the serpentine runner 20, wherein the two side walls of the runner 20 have the extension portions 24, and the block plates 23 alternately project from the two side walls; further, the separating column 25 projects from the bottom of the runner 20 at near the inlet 21. Thus, the contact area between water and the runner 20 is greatly increased, and the heating efficiency is obviously promoted. Thereby, the size of the vaporizer can be effectively reduced to benefit product design. Besides, the seal strip 40 along the runner 20 can provide a superior airtightness to prevent from leakage.

Those described above are the preferred embodiments to exemplify the present invention. However, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the present invention. 

1. A vaporizer runner structure, characterized in that said vaporizer runner structure comprises: a body concaved to form a runner to heat a liquid flowing therethrough, wherein a plurality of extension portions projects from the side walls of said runner; and a cover used to hood said body and airtight said runner.
 2. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 1, wherein a block plate projects from the side wall of said runner to reduce the sectional area of said runner.
 3. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 2, wherein two side walls of said runner respectively have a plurality of said block plates, and that said block plates are intermittently and alternately installed on said two side walls.
 4. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 1, wherein a separating column projects from the bottom of said runner to increase the surface area of said runner.
 5. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 1, wherein said body has a trench, which is along said runner and used to install a leakage-proof seal strip against said cover.
 6. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 1, wherein said runner has an inlet, and said cover has a water entry located corresponding to said inlet, and a water-supplying unit is installed to said water entry.
 7. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 6, wherein said water-supplying unit has a first conduit and a first connector, and said first connector has a joint portion joining with said first conduit and a water output portion extending from said joint portion to said inlet of said runner.
 8. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 1, wherein said runner has an outlet, and said cover has a steam exit located corresponding to said outlet, and an exhaust unit is installed to said steam exit.
 9. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 8, wherein said exhaust unit has a second conduit and a second connector.
 10. The vaporizer runner structure according to claim 1, wherein a threaded hole and a through-hole are correspondingly formed on said body and said cover, and a fixing element penetrates said threaded hole and said through-hole to position said body and said cover, and a leakage-proof seal ring is arranged between said fixing element and said through-hole of said cover. 